Cap for typewriter key bars



NOV. 3, 1936. l L |NSKY 2,059,882

CAP FOR TYPEWR'ITER KEY BARS 'Filed Nov. 11. 1955 A; EORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNI-.TED STATES PATENT GFFICE CAP FOR TYPEWRITER KEY BARS Jack Linsky, New York, N. Y.

Application November 11, 1935, Serial No. 49,147

8 Claims. (Cl. IS7- 103) vThe subject matter of this invention is a finger cushioning device applicable for use in connection with typewriter keys. Particularly, however, the invention is concerned with an improved 'and simplified key cushioning device comprising an annular shell removably mounted on a typewriter key and comprising a relatively soft and resilient cap shaped top retained by an annular ange of the shell.

The invention has as an object the provision of an annular backing retained against downward displacement within the shell and including a plurality of spaced prongs cooperating with an annular depending flange of the cap to lock the latter to the shell and prevent the removal thereof. rI'he invention further comprehends as an object the provision of an anchoring seat in the form of an annular backing non-rotatably sustaining the resilient cap concentrically locked relative to the shell. The invention further contemplates as a further object the provision of an anchoring channeled plate or backing comprising a plurality of spaced upstanding fingers each including relatively sharp and pointed terminals c0- operating with an annular flange of the shell to compress the annular depending flange of the cap to prevent removal thereof from the shell.

The invention consists in certain new and original features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed and as to its other objects and advantages, the mode of operation and manner of its organization, these, inter alia, may be better understood by referring to the following description considered in connectionv with the accompanying drawing forming apart thereof in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical side Viewv of a typewriter key with a finger cushioning device according to my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical and sectional view of the cushioning device illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is an underneath view of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is an exploded or unassernbled view in perspective of the component parts of the finger cushioning device illustrated Vin the preceding views. v

The finger cushioning device according to the invention comprises an annular sleeve or shell Ill, a relatively `soft rubber indicia carrying cap II andan anchoring plate or backing I2. Cap II is in the form of a one piece cylindrical member having a top Wall I3 from which integrally vdepends an annular skirt or ange I4. Top wall I3 together with annular ange I4 define a centrally arranged recess or chamber I5. It will be noted that the lower portion of an annular flange I4 is provided with an integrally connected and inwardly disposed annular lip I6, presenting a continuous and inclined surface.

Annular flange I4 embodies an annular and horizontally disposed groove or channel I1 cooperating to snugly receive an inwardly overhanging and downwardly inclined annularflange or rim I8 integralV with sleeve Ill. The anchoring backing I2 is retained against downward displacement by the inclined and tapering detent I9 bent inwardly from the body of shell I0.

According to the invention, the annular backing or frame I2 includes a horizontal Wall 20 having an outer annular upstanding flange 2I and a plurality of spaced prongs 22 each of which comprises an upwardly extending inclined finger 23 having a relatively sharp tapered and pointed outwardly and upwardly extending terminal 24.

Backing I2 may be bent out of sheet metal stock and is a one piece member. This backing is utilized as a seat for receiving the lower portion of the annular depending flange I4 of the rubber cap. More particularly, however, the lower portion of annular ange I4 is closely surrounded by the annular rim I2 and the spaced fingers 23 of the prongs 22 extend upwardly within chamber or recess I5, slightly compressing the inclined annular lip I6 while the tapered terminals 24 of the several prongs penetrate into the Walls of the vertical annular chamber and hence cap II is anchored by the prongs against rotation between rim I2 and the spaced prongs although seated on wall 20 of the backing.

With the rubber cap II mounted on the retaining flange I3, the backing is inserted within the shell and pressed upwardly to force the lower portion of depending flange or skirt I4 to be confined between the prongs 22 and rim 2|.. Subsequently the terminals 24 are bent towards flange I8 to penetrate into the body of the cap.

Having applied the cap to the shell and the backing to the cap, the shell is pressed inwardly to provide detent I9 to preclude downward displacement of the backing relative to the shell.

The finger cushioning device is adapted to be mounted on a key 25 of a lever arm 26 of a typewriter and detent I9 frictionally cooperates with key 25 to maintain the cushioning device in proper position, it being noted that with the cushioning device mounted on a key, a pneumatic chamber is formed between the cap and the key.

By the present arrangement a positive lock is provided to prevent removal of the cap from the shell. In this connection, it will be observed that the annular flange I8 abuts the Vertical face of annular groove I1 while the spaced prongs enter into a portion of flange I4 above groove I1, hence it is apparent that ange I8 and the several prongs cooperate to grip the reduced portion 21 of skirt I4, the action of the prongs being in opposition to action of flange I8 to compress reduced portion 21 and to preclude reduction of the diameter of groove l1, that is the action of the prongs prevents reduction of the outside diameter of the reduced portion 21, hence the cap is locked to the shell against removal.

Without further analysis, the foregoing disclosure will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features, that from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspect of the invention and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

1. In a finger cushioning device, the combination of, a shell having an annular flange, a resilient indicia identified cap retained by said flange and comprising an annular depending portion, a backing having an annular rim interposed between said shell and depending portion, and a plurality of prongs extending upwardly from said backing and each including a relatively sharp tapered terminal adapted to penetrate the body of said cap to prevent removal of the latter from said flange.

2. In a finger cushioning device, the combination of, a shell having an annular flange, a resilient indicia identified cap retained by said iiange and comprising an annular depending portion Adefining a centrally arranged chamber, an anchoring member comprising a backing abutting said depending portion and including an annular rim interposed between said shell and depending portion, said anchoring member having a plurality of prongs extending upwardly into said chamber and including means adapted to enter a part of the body of said cap to prevent removal of the latter from said flange.

3. In a finger cushioning device, the combination of, a shell having an annular flange, a resilient indicia identied cap retained by said ange and comprising an annular depending portion defining a centrally arranged chamber, an anchoring member comprising a backing abutting said depending portion and including an annular rim interposed between said shell and depending portion, said depending portion comprising an inclined annular lip, said anchoring member having a plurality of spaced prongs for compressing said lip and including inclined relatively sharp pointed terminals adapted to pierce the body of said cap to prevent rotation of the latter relative to said backing and prevent removal of said cap from said ange.

4. In a nger cushioning device, the combination of, a shell having an annular flange, a resilient indicia identied cap retained by said flange and comprising an annular depending portion defining a centrally arranged chamber, an anchoring member comprising a backing abutting said depending portion and including an annular rim interposed between said shell and depending portion, said depending portion comprising an annular lip having an inclined surface disposed at the lower portion of said chamber, said anchoring member having a plurality of spaced upwardly extending prongs extending within said chamber and adapted to compress said lip, each of said prongs including a tapered projection for penetrating the body of said cap above said lip to prevent removal of said cap from said iiange.

5. In a finger cushioning device, the combination of, a shell having an annular flange, a resilient indicia identified cap retained by said ange and comprising an annular depending portion dening a centrally arranged chamber, an anchoring member comprising a backing abutting said depending portion and including an annular rim interposed between said shell and said depending portion, said depending portion comprising a lip disposed at the lower portion of said chamber, said anchoring device comprising upwardly extending prongs projecting into said chamber and adapted to abut said lip and including pointed terminals for penetrating the sides of said chamber above said lip and compressing a part of said depending portion against said ange to prevent removal of said cap therefrom.

6. In a finger cushioning device, the combination of, a shell having an annular fiange, a resilient cap having an annular depending portion and including an annular groove for receiving said flange to position said cap in respect to said shell, and a backing member comprising means for seating the lower part of said depending portion and including a plurality of spaced upstanding prongs extending within said depending portion, each of said prongs including a tapered projection for penetrating said depending portion above said groove to compress a restricted portion of said cap against said flange to prevent removal of said cap from said shell.

7. In a nger cushioning device, the combination of, a shell having an annular flange, a resilient cap having a depending portion dening a vertically disposed chamber and including a horizontally disposed annular groove receiving said flange and defining a restricted portion between said chamber and groove, and a backing comprising means for retaining the lower part of said depending portion and including a plurality of spaced upstanding prongs abutting the inner surface of said chamber, each of said prongs comprising a tapered and inclined projection for penetrating said depending portion to compress said restricted portion against said iiange.

8. In a finger cushioning device, the combination of, a shell having an annular flange, a resilient cap having a depending portion defining a vertically disposed chamber and including a horizontaly disposed groove receiving said flange and dening a restricted annular portion between said chamber and groove, and a backing comprising means for retaining the lower part of said depending portion and including spaced upstanding and outwardly inclined prongs adapted to abut the inner surface of said chamber, each of said prongs having an upwardly and outwardly inclined tapered projection for penetrating said depending portion above said groove to compress said restricted portion against said flange to prevent removal of said cap from said shellv JACK LINSKY. 

